Metallographia, or, A history of metals wherein is declared the signs of ores and minerals both before and after digging ... : as also, the handling and shewing of their vegetability ... : gathered forth of the most approved authors that have written in Greek, Latine, or High-Dutch ... / by John Webster ...

CHAP. XXVI. Of several sorts of Medicaments prepared forth of common Mercury, both by the way of vul∣gar Chymistry, as also by the mystical way. And of the Praecipiolum of Paracelsus and Hel∣mont.

THere are so many several Medicaments prepared by common Chymistry forth of Quicksilver, that it would be very tedious, and too large to recite them all; as is easie to be seen in Crollius, Beguinus, Hartman, Schroderus, Quercetan, Vutzerus, and the like; and therefore we shall onely enumerate some few of the principal of them.

1. And first there is that which they call Mercurius vitae, which whether it participate solely of the Anti∣mony, or solely of the Mercury, is not so easie to de∣termine, there being Authors, that hold it stiffly on either side; and we never accounted the Experiment either so luciferous, or frugiferous, to make it our business to attend trials, and exact observations about it. As for the Mercurius vitae we have administred it very frequently for the space of near thirty years, and can give it no further commendations, then that it is a strong, and churlish Vomit, fit only for robust bodies, and beneficial onely in some Phlegmatick di∣stempers, and far unworthy of those high praises that are usually attributed unto it, and therefore now we do very rarely, or never use it, having found other

mineral Vomits, that are far more safe, and of more effectual operation then it; and I wish all Tyronists to take care of its preparation.

2. The next we shall name is their Turpethum Mine∣rale, which is indeed a mercurial one, and that sharp and desperate enough, if not very carefully and skilful∣ly handled. In our younger years when we had too high an esteem of Chymical Medicines, we have often used, and administred the same, and that with no bad success, especially in some sorts of Epileptical distem∣pers: But shall warn all young Physicians to be both careful in their preparing of it, and in their admini∣stration of it also, especially in that great point de ra∣tione victus. And all I can commend it for (if that may be called a commendation) is for that woful and dishonourable way of curing by flux or salivation, which indeed is a way of cure, almost as bad as the worst of diseases.

3. The next we shall name, is that preparation of it which they call Mercurius dulcis, which is of very frequent use, and exceedingly extolled by many; we confess it may have a commendable use in Chirurge∣ry, and may to sundry good purposes be mixed with Plasters and Unguents; and is of singular effect in Ointments against all Verminous distempers, and ta∣ken inwardly doth the same; and is a pretty purger, or promoteth the working of other Catharticks; but heed must be taken, that it be not administred too of∣ten near together, for fear of a sore mouth, loosness of teeth, or a flux. And yet for the Worms may the crude Quicksilver it self, or the water wherein it is boyled, be taken with as much or more safety, and as good effects.

4. The last we shall name, is some sorts of Praeci∣pitates prepared forth of Mercury; not to mention the common Praecipitate prepared after Vigo's order, or the white one, which (if used inwardly) are far more likely to kill then to cure. One of the best, is the Quicksilver praecipitated per se; which notwith∣standing is a violent Vomitive Medicine, yet may be tolerably used by a skilful and careful Physician. But the best that ever we have seen, is a Praecipitate prepared with the good and pure spirit of Nitre, and afterwards often cohobated with the distilled water of the whites of Eggs, whereby it will become of a fine red colour as any red coral, and almost as sweet as honey, and hardly to be distinguished from the true Arcanum corallinum that is prepared with the great li∣quor Alkahest; and though it be vomitive in some measure, and be far short of the eminent vertues of the other Arcanum, yet will it never disgrace a skil∣ful Artist, that knows its due preparation and way of administring, but will without vomit or purging (if rightly handled) even cure desperate Agues by sweat∣ing onely.

But I will conclude of all these with that of Helmont, who saith, Antimonium dum vomitum movet, & Mercurius dum vivificari potest, non sunt boni viri remedia.

We descend now to treat of those great Arcana's that are no ways to be obtained but by that universal solvent, the Alkahest, that noble liquor, that is the sole glory of a Philosopher in this frail life. Which is that Key that onely opens the Rosary of the Philoso∣phers, and revealeth the hidden secrets of the Ani∣mal, Vegetable, and Mineral kingdom; without the

knowledge, and possession of which no man is worthy to sit at the golden Table of the Adeptists, nor indeed truly worthy the name of Physician.

Nec prius ante datur telluris operta subire Auricomos quàm quis discerpserit arbore foetus.

Of these Arcana's prepared by this liquor forth of [ 1] this Mineral of Mercury, Helmont first mentioneth the Mercurius Diaphoretius,* 1.1 of which he saith thus, Quar∣to loco est Mercurius Diaphoreticus, melle dulcior, & ad ignem fixus, solis horizontis omnes proprietates habet. Perficit enim quicquid Medicus & Chirurgus pos∣sint optare sanando: non tamen tam potenter reno∣vat, ut praecedentia. In his answers to the questions propounded unto him concerning this, he maketh this responsion,* 1.2 to wit; That as the Sun is thought to spring up in the Horizon of the Hemisphere: so Mercury, while it is made Diaphoretick, sweet as Honey, and fixt as Gold, is Gold in its Horizon, and is in medicine, by so much more noble than Gold, as much as an Oriental Pearl is nobler than a Scotch one. And after he telleth us, that the glorious Sul∣phur of Venus being raised again doth tinge the Sul∣phur of the Mercury (that in the Powder of Iohn de Vigo, by sulphureous corrosive Minerals was extro∣verted) immediately, and did mutually imbrace one another in an inseparable bed: And that therefore the vertue of both the Sulphurs did stand outwardly. And therefore by this conjunction the Diaphoretick Mercury from thence arising, did perform whatso∣ever the Physician or Chirurgeon could wish, either in respect of curing acute or chronical diseases.

Again,* 1.3 in another place, he largely describeth the vertues and effects of this Mercurius Diaphoreticus, in relation both to Internal, and External Distempers. And of its Preparation tells us thus much; Its de∣scription (he saith) is as well in Paracelsus Book De Morte Rerum, as in his Chirurgia Magna, and saith, he will declare it something more manifestly. Take the Powder of Iohn de Vigo, prepared with thine own hand: For otherwise it is adulterated with artificial Minium or red Lead; as the most Chymical medi∣caments that are to be sold, are full of deceit. This Powder, the element of fire extracted from the Vi∣triol of Venus being affused, or poured upon it, is five times to be cohobated with Aqua Regis, at the end increasing the fire; for it is fully fixed, and is a Powder very corrosive. Which then is to be coho∣bated ten times, with Aqua vitae dephlegmed the best that may be, and renewed at every time, until it have carried off all the corrosiveness with it. And then this Powder is sweet as Sugar. Therefore the Spirit of Wine is there called Saltaberi, or Tabar∣zet, which soundeth Sugar, not that it is sweet in it self, but that it carrieth away the corrosive spirits with it. So far, that the remaining Powder doth excel in its own sweetness, not with a sweetness borrowed elsewhere. For besides, that the fire of Vitriol is sweet, the very Sulphur of the Mercury, then turned outwardly, is of greatest sweetness. This Powder is ••ixed, and is called Horizontal Gold. Therefore (he saith) I have finished a secret in few words, which doth ennoble a Physician. But to have pre∣pared it the first time, is of huge labour, and its di∣rection dependeth of his hand, to whom all honour is

due, because he revealeth these secrets to little ones, which the world knoweth not of, and therefore dis∣esteemeth. From all this we shall animadvert some few things to be considered of, by the learned and ingenious.

• 1. To consider the high excellency of this me∣dicine, that is so noble, that in operation it effecteth whatsoever a Physician or Chirurgeon can desire: And therefore may well instigate all of those Profes∣sions, that they may bend all their studies and endea∣vours both day and night to the obtaining of the same.
• 2. That it is no wonder that they call it Hori∣zontal Gold, which if one seriously consider the great medical vertues, is an apposite name, and to be esteemed far more precious than common Gold, that cannot afford such rare and almost incredible ef∣fects.
• 3. To remember that it cannot be perfected with∣out the Sulphur or fire of Venus, which though he call the Sulphur or fire of Vitriol, yet it is not the Spirit of Vitriol, however rectified; but is the Sulphur of Copper it self, which cannot be had, but by the total destruction of its body, and the leaving of its internal and incombustible Sulphur, inseparable from its remaining white, anonymous metallick mercurial body; and this to be performed by no sublunary body but only by the Alkahest.
• 4. To note that the fire of Venus must be poured upon the Powder of Iohn de Vigo, prepared by ones own hand, whereby it appeareth that it must be in a liquid form, otherwise it might be mixed with it, but not poured upon it, and therefore certainly is in the

• form of a green Oil, as both he and Paracelsus do make manifest. But one chief point is here tacitely concealed, that is the quantities of either of them, which the studious Reader must labour to find out.
• 5. It may be some that are very critical, may que∣stion what sort of Aqua Regis this Author meaneth, but it is plain that it is the common sort, and no my∣stical kind, because he telleth us plainly that after five times cohobation with it, and increasing of the fire, it remaineth an exceeding corrosive Powder; and therefore must be cohobated ten times with the best dephlegmed Aqua vitae, every time being renewed, or fresh used, and that thereby the corrosive spirits are all carried off with the Spirit of Wine, and the Powder left as sweet as Sugar. And if we consider what this Author hath told us elsewhere, then we are to know, that it is no rectified Spirit of Wine by any common way, but prepared by the Alkahest, which is required twice in this Preparation, once for the fire of Venus, and also for the Spirit of Wine.
• 6. As for the places in Paracelsus in his Book De Morte Rerum, and in his Chirurgia Magna, though that Author seem dark enough, yet to an attentive and understanding Reader he hath shewed things that are sufficient to understand its Preparation by, and hath o∣mitted nothing in the forecited places, but only the naming of the Alkahest, which in all his great Pre∣parations he commonly leaveth out: Though in o∣ther parts of his Writings he hath spoken more ful∣ly, (both as to the matter forth of which, and the manner how, that great liquor is to be had, and prepared) than any other Author that I know of, and those that cannot learn it from his Writings,

• will hardly understand it in other. Authors.

The next great Arcanum to be had forth of com∣mon [ 2] Mercury, is that which he calleth Arcanum Co∣rallinum, or Corallatum, of which he saith this. And there is the purgation Diuceltatasson, which cures the Gout no less than Fevers.* 1.4 And its Arcanum is called Corallinum, which is prepared out of the es∣sence of Horizontal gold, after this manner: Draw off the liquor Alkahest from vulgar vendible Mercu∣ry, which Paracelsus remembreth 2. de viribus mem∣brorum, c. de hepate, which is done in one quarter of an hour. For Raymundus saith, my friends being by, and the King present, I have coagulated Argent-vive, and none except the King knew the way or manner. In which coagulation, this is most singular, that the said liquor Alkahest doth prevail the same in number, weight, and activity, so much the thousand action, as much as in the first; because it acteth without the re-action of the patient. Therefore the Mercury be∣ing so coagulated, without any remnant of the thing coagulating, then make small powder of it: and di∣stil from it five times, the water of the whites of eggs distilled, and the Sulphur of the Mercury, that by its former coagulation was drawn outwardly, will be made rubicund as Coral: and although the water of the whites of eggs doth stink, notwithstanding this powder is sweet, fixed, bearing all the fire of the bel∣lows. Neither doth it perish in the examination of Lead, notwithstanding it is spoiled of its medical virtue while it is reduced into a white metal: but it is given to eight grains for the most part, because it purgeth the body of man as long as it is foul, and not perfectly sound. Also it healeth Ulcers of the blad∣der,

of the Larinx,* 1.5 and Oesophagus. And in ano∣ther place he reciteth it almost in the same manner, but not so fully. In another place he saith of it thus. Therefore the purgation by the Arcanum Coralli∣num,* 1.6 doth destroy the Gout in its seed. But this Ar∣canum is not the colour or tincture of Coral, (as the ignorant company of Chymical Writers, to be laught at, do interpret) because the apposite words of Pa∣racelsus (which is of the essence of Gold) do sound another thing.

Also the colour of Gold, the Sulphur, or Tin∣cture, do not loose the belly, or purge: but this Ar∣canum is in substance, metallick; in colour, coralline; in taste, like honey; and in essence, golden. Truly not that ever it was a malleable body, but is the Horizon of Gold, a shut-up body, and fixed; whose Sul∣phur is sweet, and to be commixed with our Con∣stitutive parts. In this Sulphur the Omnipotent hath collected all the virtues of the Sun, to whom only all honour and glory is due.

We have before, where we spoke of the Alkahest, said much to what from all this might be observed: only we shall add these few things.

• 1. That the Learned may note, that the Writings of Paracelsus (by many so much condemned) do bear in them a far deeper sense and meaning than even common Chymists do imagine; and are not to be weighed according to the letter, but according to the depth of that Learning the Author was master of. And therefore we may here observe that Helmont un∣derstood him otherwise (and that according to the truth of his meaning) than many hundreds have done besides.
• ...

• 2. That he that will understand the matter out of which the Alkahest is prepared, and its manner of preparation also, can never find either of them by any surer way than by truly considering and understanding the effects of that liquor. And I am bold to tell all searchers, that no effect of it doth more declare the matter from whence it is taken, than this that he hath related in what I have before quoted; and therefore let it be observed.
• 3. Where he saith, That the Mercury being coa∣gulated by the liquor Alkahest, hath its Sulphur ex∣troverted: but if it be melted down into a white me∣tal, that then it loseth its medical virtue. The rea∣son of which is, (though we may be condemned for disclosing it) that the medicinal virtue consists only in the external and separable Sulphur, and not in the Mercurial part, which is not to be destroyed either by Art or Nature; and therefore in fluxing it down into a white metal, the external Sulphur is wasted in the fire, or burnt off, and so the medical virtue must needs be lost, which consisted only in the Sulphur.

The last thing that we purposed to handle here, is the Praecipiolum of Paracelsus, for from him Helmont had it; and therefore might well confess (though in many things he is very injurious unto him, even some∣times to attribute those Theorical notions to himself, that he plainly stole from him, and yet laboured to deprive him of the honour) that by his Writings he had profited much. But ere we give our censure about this Praecipiolum, we shall fully give the Rea∣der an account what they both say in the matter. And first, Paracelsus thus: The condition of Mercury is, that it be precipitated in its Mineral or Ore, and be

separated from it dead;* 1.7 for so it is not Argent-vive, but Mercury: for when dead, it is Mercury; but li∣ving, it is Argent-vive. If therefore, as the prescri∣bed manner of its preparation, it be mortified; its dose is two grains, the process being observed, that the Schole delivereth, neither need it be included in the Text.

* 1.8The relation of Helmont is thus. But Paracelsus approveth his Praecipiolum or Mercury, drawn forth dead out of its Mineral or Ore, above other reme∣dies: but other simples, for the degree of affinity, by which they come near this metallick Mercury. And a little after he saith, In the mean time I confess, that that same Mercury hath always answered to my de∣sires. Truly its acquisition is difficult, but the dose of two grains three or four times exhibited doth suf∣fice. But the Diaphoretick Mercury once being had, it sufficeth to many myriads of diseased persons, as well for the Physician as for his posterity.

That which we shall move from hence is this, That there are some learned men with whom we have con∣versed, or had intercourse by Letters, that are of opinion that this Praecipiolum, or dead Mercury, is some artificial preparation by the Alkahest: but sa∣ving the judgments of those men, we cannot be of their opinion, for these reasons.

• 1. Because both the Authors say that it is drawn dead forth of its Mineral or Ore, and therefore in like∣lihood must be by nature mortified in its Ore, or else it could not be so drawn forth of it, except it were dead before.
• 2. Helmont saith it is of difficult acquisition, not of difficult preparation, so that only the difficulty must

• be in finding or obtaining such of its Ore as hath the Argent-vive mortified in it when it is digged forth of the earth, and not made so by Art.
• 3. He compareth the Diaphoretick Mercury with it, and extols it far above it, as able to serve the Phy∣sician and his posterity, being once but had, but doth not say so much of the Praecipiolum.

Therefore I would intreat all ingenious and learn∣ed persons to take notice of these two things.

• 1. That Paracelsus tells us, that while Argent-vive is living, it is Argent-vive, but Mercury when it is dead, or so fixed that it cannot be revived again; for then it is like the Planet Mercury, able to exert its virtues, when before it is (though a tremulous body, and seeming open) most of all shut, and doth utterly deny its help to humane bodies. So that Longè alius est sensus Sophorum, quam vulgarium literatorum.
• 2. To move all inquisitive persons that either tra∣vel where Mines of Quicksilver are, or have corre∣spondency with any that live near them, or work in them, to endeavour if any such thing may be found as the Ore that hath the Argent-vive dead in it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Arcan. Para∣cel. p. 790.
• * 1.2

  De Lithia••. l. c. 8. p. 69.
• * 1.3

  De Febrib. l. c. 14. p. 52.
• * 1.4

  De Febr. l. c. 14. p. 52.
• * 1.5

  Arcan. Par. p. 790.
• * 1.6

  Vol. Vivent. &c. p. 387.
• * 1.7

  De Hydropis. l. p. 623.
• * 1.8

  Ignor. Hydrop. p. 521.